Question

The total volume of ice in the Antarctic is about 3.01 x 107 km3. If all the ice in the Antarctic were to melt completely, estimate the rise, h, in sea level that would result from the additional liquid water entering the oceans. The densities of ice and fresh water are 0.92 g/cm3 and 1.0 g/cm3, respectively. Assume that the oceans of the world cover an area, A, of about 3.62 x 108 km2 and that the increase in volume of the oceans can be calculated as A x h.

Answer 1

Answer:

The rise in sea level it will be of 0.08 Km.

Explanation:

The relation between volume (V) and mass (m) is density (δ):

δ = m / V

First, knowing the volume of ice in the Antarctic  and the density of the ice, it is possible to calculate the mass of ice that will melt:

m = δ.V = $0.92\frac{g}{cm3} x 3.01x10^{7}Km3 x 1x10^{15}\frac{cm3}{Km3} = 2.77x10^{22} g$

The mass of ice is 2.77x1022 so, the mass of water entering the oceans is the same.

Second, knowing the mass of water and the density of water, it is possible to calculate the volume of water entering the oceans:

V = m / δ = $\frac{2.77x10^{22}g}{1g/cm3} = 2.77x10^{22} cm3$

Third, assuming that the oceans of the world cover an area, A, of about 3.62 x 108 km2 and that the increase in volume of the oceans can be calculated as A x h:

h = V/A = $\frac{2.77x10^{22} cm3x 10^{-15}Km3/cm3 }{3.62x10^{8}Km2 } = 0.08 Km$